Vjorhaal The First Ember

Greetings. I welcome you to the sea of worlds known, as the Embertide. I, am Yorvjek, who is called Emberkeeper, the chronicler of this plane, and I have forged this compendium, that you may know and enjoy the beauty and majesty of the Forged Existence. Numerous fables of Heroic, Epic, Dark, and Mythic fantasy have spun their way from the Embers. Tales of Intrigue, Mystery, and War abound, with sword wielding knights, enigmatic sorcerers, and swashbuckling scoundrels at the centers. Here lies a world of endless possibility, fraught with danger and challenges, as much as glory and honor. This world, is yours to explore. The Embertide was forged, Aeons ago. At first, it was an empty void, dark and hollow. A being, nameless at this day, was displeased with the darkness, and so he filled it with light. This creator made counless worlds, each one a glowing Ember of life and energy, hand crafted with artistic expertise and a master's touch. These tiny points of light were cast across the endless void, much how a blacksmith casts sparks from his anvil. And there they lay eternally, glowing and providing light to the darkness, and life in the vacuum.   After untold millenia passed, the creator enjoying his creations, he suddenly dissapeared, without any warning or trace. And in his place, was a pantheon of divine beings, without his omnipotence, but still wielding powers beyond mortal comprehension. These are the beings now known as the Divines and the Aetherials, the High gods and the Low gods. Each god is deeply involved in the lives of mortals. They are constantly at work, answering prayers, granting powers, and pursuing ulterior motives. Each god is a distinct individual, having its own history, personality, and form. Mortals build deep relationships with these gods, and though it is uncommon, it is not unheard of for a god to speak directly to a follower.   Along with the pantheon of gods, came an enigmatic force, a power that no one really understands. Without the creator there to continually give light and energy to the Embers, they would eventually cool, and entropy would take over, the Embertide returning to the darkness it came from. The Aether is what keeps that from happening. There are none in the Embertide's existence who can explain where it came from, or really the full measure of its capabilities. Many have spent years trying and failing to unravel all of its complexities, but as soon as a single question is answered, a dozen more appear. What is known, is that the Aether is the lifeblood of the cosmos. It is the light that the Embers glow with, the matter that makes up a mortal soul, and the power that makes the gods what they are.   Five different aspects of the Embertide exist, each one of them a plane of existence. All of these planes exist within the same space, being different versions of the same reality. The Embers are places where the barriers between the planes meet, and doorways are opened. Each Ember exists within each plane, the nature of the plane transforming and changing the Ember to match itself. These five planes, and the smaller demiplanes inside them, make up what is called the Omniverse.   The story of the Embertide is one of balance, of a constant struggle, of good against evil, light against dark, and law against chaos. The mortals and the immortals are all part of this struggle, whether they are aware to it or not. Many times through the course of the realm's history, the balance has shifted, and all has been threatened. These are the times where the greatest heroes rise, and the most wondrous stories occur. The ever present threat of the light fading, that which was created dissapearing, and spinning into the chaotic dark, that is what drives beings in the Embertide.   There is always another secret. From its conception, the Embertide has been a place of mysteries and wonders. Who was the creator? Where did he go? What is the Aether? There is perhaps one person who knows the answers to questions like these, and he has decided to not divulge them in this compendium. Rather, they exist for you to discover on your own, as you journey and explore, and experience the stories of heroes. Otherwise, I could simply tell you the answers, and my work would be completed before it began.   And what would be the fun in that?